Tuesday April 20 Ag News

 SEEDING ALFALFA NO-TILL
– Ben Beckman, NE Extension Educator
             
Most plantings of alfalfa begin with a conventionally tilled and prepared seedbed.  While no one can predict the weather, those wanting to minimize moisture loss during planting may consider a no-till option.
 
Fields with low levels of crop residue remaining from last year and the always present need to conserve soil moisture, might make no-till a good option for establish alfalfa this spring.
              
There are some obvious advantages to seeding no-till, like fuel and time savings due to fewer trips across the field.  In addition, you reduce soil erosion by retaining crop residues rather than tilling them under.  No-till also conserves soil moisture, which may be the best reason of all this spring.  Also, due to lack of tillage the seedbed is good and firm for rapid seedling emergence.  Finally, no-till will limit the number of new weed seeds near the soil surface.
              
Disadvantages to no-till include relying solely on clipping or post-emerge herbicides for weed control.  Fortunately, we have good post-emerge herbicides available to control most weed problems.  Another problem is ridges from prior row crops that can interfere with uniform seeding as well as make fields rough for future haying operations.  And finally, some drills do not work well for no-till seeding so equipment might limit your options.
              
If you can do it, though, no-till alfalfa is worth trying.  It works really well in bean stubble and almost as well in small grain stubble.  No-till is a bit more difficult in corn and milo stubble, especially if there is much row ridging.  Be sure to kill any early weeds with Roundup® or Gramoxone® before planting.  And last but not least, use a drill that places seed about one-half inch deep and then covers seed with soil using a good press wheel.
               
Try no-till alfalfa.  It could be very effective this year.



Ricketts Proclaims “Rodeo Week” in Nebraska

On Monday, Governor Pete Ricketts proclaimed Rodeo Week in Nebraska while on horseback in front of the Governor’s Residence in Lincoln.  Following the Governor’s proclamation, he was joined for a horseback ride by University of Nebraska President Ted Carter and members of the University of Nebraska Rodeo Association.

This week, the University of Nebraska Rodeo Association is hosting the 2021 Nebraska Cornhusker College Rodeo on Friday and Saturday (April 23-24) at the Lancaster Event Center.  The Governor encouraged Nebraskans to attend.  He also highlighted other notable rodeos scheduled to take place this summer in Nebraska.  They include:
·       The Nebraska High School Finals Rodeo, June 17-19 in Hastings.
·       The 2021 National High School Finals Rodeo, July 18-24 in Lincoln.
·       Nebraska’s Big Rodeo, July 28-31 in Burwell.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Nebraska’s Big Rodeo, which Nebraska Tourism honored as the state’s “Outstanding In-Person Event” of 2020.



 CASNR announces Change Maker Incoming Student Scholarship Recipients

The College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has selected eight incoming CASNR students to receive Change Maker scholarships for the 2021-22 academic year.  

In its second year, the CASNR Change Maker Scholarship Competition invites prospective students to submit a quick-pitch video outlining a plan to address important worldwide issues related to food, energy, water and other societal issues. Winners receive mentoring and other support to help make their big idea a reality during their time in CASNR.  

A committee comprised of Emeriti faculty, CASNR faculty, staff and students have selected the following individuals to receive 2021-22 scholarships:
    Ava Barajas, agribusiness; Clovis, Calif.
    Jack Bunch, forensic science; Irvine, Calif.
    Emily Eilers, agricultural and environmental sciences communication; Wayne, Neb.
    Claire Klein, insect science; Los Angeles, Calif.
    Mackenzie Sudbeck, pre-veterinary medicine; Wynot, Neb.
    Isabella Villanueva, environmental studies; Lincoln, Neb.
    Kade Wiese, agribusiness; Columbus, Neb.
    Kaden Wykert, animal science; Sutherland, Neb.  

The winning students were selected from applicants across Nebraska and the United States. In addition, the winning students will compete for the People’s Choice Change Maker Award with the winner receiving a $1,000 textbook scholarship. Change Maker videos will be posted on the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/unlcasnr) beginning on April 26 with the People’s Choice winner determined by the most “likes” received by April 30.  

“CASNR is blown away by the innovation and creativity all applicants have shown us during the competition. These students are enthusiastic about making a change and dedicated to their education. We are extremely excited for them to make their big ideas a reality in our college,” said CASNR Dean Tiffany Heng-Moss.



Livestock Producers Can Track Their Costs and Insurance Options

Newly updated resources from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach are available to help livestock producers track their cost of production and work through price insurance options.

The “Livestock Enterprise Budgets for Iowa” and “Livestock Risk Insurance Plans for Cattle Producers” are both available in the April edition of Ag Decision Maker.

The “enterprise budgets” publication provides estimates of production costs for common livestock produced in Iowa, using estimates that reflect average or above-average levels of management and expected input and output prices for 2021.

Producers are encouraged to enter their own costs for items like feed, labor, facilities, equipment and transportation. The publication helps producers understand and identify fixed costs (those that occur regardless of the level of production) and variable costs (those that vary according to the level of production).

Each of the eleven livestock enterprise budgets has a coordinating Decision Tool for producers to enter their own information or they can start with the same inputs as the ISU budget and make adjustments.

“We’ve set these budgets up so producers can insert their own on-farm numbers,” said Tim Christensen, farm management specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “The more accurate the input numbers are, the more accurate the numbers will be for each operation.”

The goal is to help producers think critically about the different costs and opportunities associated with each species, while providing different scenarios of what could happen throughout the year.

The publication on livestock insurance covers two programs administered through the farm bill, known as Livestock Risk Protection and Livestock Gross Margin.

The LRP program provides protection against price declines, while the LGM program provides protection against loss of gross margin (market value of livestock minus feed costs).

“Both programs are great ways for livestock producers to have some risk management protection against adverse price movements,” Christensen said.

The article provides an update on recent changes, which includes a higher level of subsidy available, and the ability to pay premiums at the end of the insurance period, instead of upfront.

Both products are available to producers of all sizes and must be purchased through an authorized insurance agent.

A Decision Tool comparing coverage levels for covered livestock species under the Livestock Revenue Protection program has also been updated.

This month’s Ag Decision Maker also includes a look at the “push-n-pull” factors supporting hog prices, written by Lee Schulz, associate professor in economics and livestock economist at Iowa State University.



'Thank You to Ottumwa' Emphasizes Community
    
On Friday, April 16, the Ottumwa community was the focus of a “Thank You” celebration from Iowa's pig farmers for the support shown to those who work in bringing food from farm to table.
 
“Lifting spirits on challenging days and providing inspiration to help others clear the hurdles in front of them are ways you have touched the hearts of farmers,” said local pig farmer Heidi Vittetoe. “The way you make people feel matters. And as we've gone through the pandemic, the Ottumwa community made us feel like part of a team."

Vittetoe noted the great efforts that JBS Pork in Ottumwa made to keep people safe, while keeping the plant open for the people who work there and for the farmers who sell their pigs there.

Ottumwa Mayor Tom Lazio also noted that the past year helped everyone realize who the essential workers were: from moms and dads who stayed home with children as schools closed, to those who work behind the scenes to keep the city functioning, such as those at the waste water treatment plant. He also gave credit to those that kept manufacturing at work in Ottumwa, as well as the police and fire departments. "We may be 'Iowa Nice'," he said, but we're also Iowa hard-working."

TJ Heller of Greater Ottumwa Partners in Progress noted that "during times of trial, people either give up or push through to greatness. Ottumwa businesses did the latter, and moved to the future by 'calling audibles' that led to sharing staff to help other businesses and developing technology so they had a stronger virtual presence."
 
As part of their “Thank You” celebration, the Iowa pork producers donated $500 of pork to the Food Bank of Iowa, which provides food assistance in the Ottumwa area. The pork producers also provided pork coupons to local grocery stores for consumers to use, and pork thank-you baskets to local first responders.
 
The day wrapped up with a giveaway at the Bridge View Center parking lot of nearly 5000 pounds of pork to Ottumwa-area residents. That giveaway equals almost 20,000 meals or servings of pork. Families each received a four-to-five-pound pork loin, and through the assistance of the police and fire departments, 1,000 vehicles moved through the lot in record time.
 
The past 12 months have reminded us about the importance of community when times are challenging and uncertain. Uncertainty and challenges are still ahead. “It matters that we all work together in keeping people safe as our work continues to feed your families, neighbors, and others,” Vittetoe said.

Lazio echoed that thought, noting "It takes a healthy community to get through what we have this past year."



Managing Cattle Grazing Distribution: It’s Not As Simple As It Sounds

Grazing is an agricultural term to describe the natural behavior of cattle moving across pastures and rangelands as they consume different plants. Surprisingly, grazing cattle are selective about where and which plants they will eat, and land managers consider grazing distribution an essential factor in deciding how to manage their herds, including how to prevent overgrazing for conserving biodiversity of the land.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) collaborated with various universities and the Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) network to examine the influence of topography on grazing distribution that can inform land managers in the selection of efficient grazing strategies.

Livestock managers desire information on several factors affecting grazing distribution before implementing land management strategies. With this in mind, researchers at USDA-ARS completed a cross-site collaboration study with university-operated experiment stations and four LTAR funded sites, with the primary goal of determining how factors like landscape topography and water availability affect cattle grazing distribution. The data collected at all sites creates a benchmark for understanding how environment can drive the spatial patterns of animal use in pastures under several management practices and across numerous ecosystems covering arid, semiarid, and sub-tropical environments.

The study collected data from seven rangeland sites in Florida, Nebraska, New Mexico, Colorado, and Idaho and used collars equipped with global positioning system (GPS) technology to measure cattle movement and activity. This technology was successfully used in prior studies completed by scientists David J. Augustine and Justin D. Derner, from the Rangeland Resources and Systems Research Unit, at Fort Collins, CO and Cheyenne, WY.

"The information collected from the GPS-collars allowed us to develop a broad-scale analysis of how topography in these seven rangeland sites in North America determines livestock grazing distribution," said E.J. Raynor, Research Associate Ecologist within the Rangeland Resources & Systems Research Unit at Fort Collins, CO at the time of study and currently with the Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research Unit in University Park, PA. "By studying how livestock grazing occurs on different parts of the landscape like flat plains, lowlands, open slopes, and upland, we developed models that can be used to predict distribution of grazing cattle. One observation from these models is cattle prefer to graze low-lying locations in drier regions and more elevated locations in wetter regions, where flooding likely reduces selection." The USDA-ARS LTAR Grazinglands working group of scientists is optimistic that this study will set the stage for similar collaborative efforts, including plant community composition, forage production, and livestock weight gains to provide insights into sustainable livestock management strategies across diverse rangeland ecosystems.



CRES: Growing Climate Solutions Act is Free-Market Win for Farmers, Businesses, the Climate

Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) today applauded reintroduction of the Growing Climate Solutions Act (GCSA) for the 117th Congress by its original sponsors Senators Mike Braun (R-IN), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and a bipartisan group of senators—including the U.S. Senate Minority Whip John Thune (SD) and U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee Ranking Member John Boozman (AR) and Republican Senators Bill Cassidy (LA), Susan Collins (ME), Mike Crapo (ID), Joni Ernst (IA), Deb Fischer (NE), Chuck Grassley (IA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (MS), Cynthia Lummis (WY), Lisa Murkowski (AK) and Todd Young (IN).

In response to today’s bill introduction, CRES Executive Director Heather Reams offered the following statement:

“When our farmers, ranchers, and foresters go the extra mile to help reduce America’s carbon footprint, they should be rewarded, not penalized. The Growing Climate Solutions Act is exciting because it would allow valuable carbon credits to be harvested along with any crops farmed using climate-friendly practices. By normalizing how those credits can be sold on voluntary carbon credit markets, the GCSA also makes it easy for farms of all shapes and sizes to connect with and sell these credits to the scores of American companies and utilities that have committed to going carbon neutral but can’t do it alone.

“The GCSA is a free-market win for agriculture producers, businesses, and the climate; it is a solution that helps restore the environment without heavy-handed government mandates or driving up the cost of food and energy production.

“America’s farmers, ranchers and foresters have been environmental stewards for generations but have largely been left out of the climate conversation—despite the serious consequences our changing climate can have on their livelihood. I commend Senators Braun, Stabenow, Graham and Whitehouse for their continued leadership on this legislation and for prioritizing commonsense clean energy and climate policy. The support for this legislation by a large, bipartisan group of senators—especially those hailing from the Midwest and across the Heartland—is a testament to the positive impact this bill will have on the men and women who give so much to feed, fuel and clothe us all.”

This January, CRES released the results of a national survey of more than 1,050 registered voters that gauged support for various climate change and clean energy proposals and concepts. The survey revealed that 74% of voters approve of financial incentives for agricultural producers to increase sustainable farming practices with 77% of voters supporting the creation of a voluntary carbon market for farmers.



NMPF Lauds Progress on Bipartisan Growing Climate Solutions Act, Welcomes Conservation Proposals

The National Milk Producers Federation today applauded bipartisan work that’s being done on legislation that would bolster the many conservation and environmental efforts dairy producers are leading as they continue their everyday stewardship of air, land, and water resources.

This week, Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) reintroduced their bipartisan Growing Climate Solutions Act. This important legislation creates a USDA certification program that would permit the Department to informally endorse technical service providers that can help farmers implement environmental stewardship practices that may generate carbon credits. The legislation, if passed, would be invaluable for dairy farmers seeking to achieve the sector’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality or better by 2050 through dairy’s Net Zero Initiative.

“We commend Chairwoman Stabenow and Senator Braun for continuing their bipartisan leadership on the Growing Climate Solutions Act, which would encourage greater farmer participation in environmental markets,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. “This legislation will enhance the proactive, sustainable initiatives dairy farmers are expanding as our sector strives to achieve carbon neutrality.”

The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee held a hearing on the Growing Climate Solutions Act last June. NMPF submitted written testimony in support of the measure on behalf of Mulhern and Environmental Issues Committee Chair Mike McCloskey.

NMPF additionally commended the efforts of House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA), who last Friday put forward several measures to adapt farm bill conservation programs to help address climate change by: allowing private sector funding to meet conservation program demand; emphasizing soil health and increasing funding for Conservation Innovation Trials; and incentivizing the adoption of precision agriculture systems.

“We thank Ranking Member Thompson for furthering the conversation on climate and sustainability by putting forward several proposals for discussion,” said Mulhern. “We agree that farm bill conservation programs can be vital to helping producers reduce their environmental footprint, and we look forward to more closely examining this suite of legislation and other proposals that may be introduced in the coming weeks.”



Growing Climate Solutions Act Improves Credibility of Carbon Markets, NFU Says

In the midst of Earth Week, Senators Debbie Stabenow, Mike Braun, Lindsey Graham, and Sheldon Whitehouse reintroduced the Growing Climate Solutions Act, which aims to provide certainty to farmers and ranchers seeking compensation for climate-smart agricultural practices through carbon markets.

To achieve this end, the bill would create a certification program for third-party verifiers and technical service providers that help farmers earn carbon credits to ensure they have the appropriate expertise. Information about those providers will be available to farmers via an online portal. Additionally, the bill would establish an advisory committee composed of farmers, industry experts, scientists, and representatives from private markets to make recommendations to Congress and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on how they can further strengthen the credibility of carbon markets and facilitate farmers’ participation.

When the bill was first introduced last year, National Farmers Union (NFU) endorsed it, saying it was “an important step toward strong and comprehensive climate policy.” In a statement today, NFU President Rob Larew reiterated the organization’s support:

“Climate change is one of the greatest tests we have ever faced. To protect ourselves and our planet from this existential threat, we must leave no stone unturned ­­– including agriculture, which holds immense promise when it comes to mitigation and adaptation. Through the implementation of climate-smart practices, family farmers and ranchers can not only reduce their operations’ climate impact, but they can also offset other sectors’ emissions by sequestering atmospheric carbon in their soil.

“Recognizing that potential, a patchwork of carbon markets has sprung up to incentivize and reward such practices. However, there is currently no formal oversight of these markets or uniformity among them for criteria, payment rates, or measurement, which can make selecting the right one a confusing and overwhelming process. By creating a certification program, the Growing Climate Solutions Act would bring much-needed clarity and certainty to this burgeoning sector, thus making it easier for farmers to obtain the financial resources they need to invest in climate solutions. We welcome and support this important initiative and will continue working with the committee to leverage agriculture in our fight against the climate crisis.”



Bipartisan Growing Climate Solutions Act Makes it Easier for Farmers, Ranchers and Forest Owners to Benefit from Voluntary Carbon Markets

The Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance (FACA) applauds the bipartisan re-introduction of the Growing Climate Solutions Act and thanks Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) for sponsoring the bill. The act establishes a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) technical assistance and certification program to assist producers and forest owners seeking to participate in voluntary carbon markets. Sens. Stabenow and Braun are joined by 34 cosponsors of the bill, including Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman (R-Ark.) and 12 other committee members, demonstrating that bipartisan, common ground can be found on climate policies.

Climate change directly impacts the farmers, ranchers and forest owners who rely on a healthy environment to produce food and forest products. The Growing Climate Solutions Act would ensure agricultural producers and forest owners of all sizes looking to enter the carbon market for the first time have access to reliable information, qualified technical service providers and third-party verifiers. In addition, the bill establishes a robust USDA advisory council composed of farmers, scientists and other climate stakeholders. FACA would like to recognize Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Boozman for their work together to ensure producer representation on the advisory council.

FACA, consisting of almost 70 agriculture, food, forestry and environmental organizations, is built on guiding principles that stress federal climate policy must be built upon voluntary, incentive-based programs and market-driven opportunities, promote resilience and adaptation in rural communities, and be grounded in scientific evidence. In addition, climate solutions must be strongly bipartisan and accommodate the diverse needs of producers and landowners, regardless of size, geographic region or commodity.

FACA members developed more than 40 joint recommendations to guide the development of federal climate policy, including an endorsement of the Growing Climate Solutions Act introduced last Congress. Download the recommendations and see a full list of member organizations at agclimatealliance.com.



Repealing Stepped-Up Basis Tax Provision Will Eliminate Thousands of Jobs, Take Billions Out of Economy Annually, New Study Finds

A new report released today by EY finds that repealing the step-up in basis tax provision would damage the gross domestic product (GDP) and significantly decrease job creation. The study was conducted for the Family Business Estate Tax Coalition, which includes almost 60 organizations representing family-owned businesses.  

The EY study found middle-class, family-owned businesses would be particularly hard hit by the repeal. Currently, when someone inherits assets, they aren’t taxed on the appreciation that happened before they inherited them. If family-owned farms, small businesses or manufacturers are forced to pay capital gains accrued by the prior owner, they would likely face large tax bills that put the future of their business at risk.   

According to the study’s findings, repealing the step-up in basis would result in:  
          80,000 fewer jobs in each of the first ten years;  
          100,000 fewer jobs each year thereafter; and
         A $32 reduction in workers’ wages  for every $100 raised by taxing capital gains at death.

It would also reduce GDP relative to the U.S. economy in 2021, by approximately:
          $10 billion annually;
          $100 billion over 10 years.

“Repealing stepped-up basis is not a free lunch for those looking to generate tax revenue and would have significant consequences in the multifamily marketplace,” said Doug Bibby, President of the National Multifamily Housing Council. “Absent stepped-up basis, heirs could inherit an apartment property with a small amount basis and possibly sizeable debt. If they are taxed immediately, the resulting depreciation recapture and capital gains taxes could exceed their ability to pay without selling the asset. Even if funds to pay tax are available, heirs may have little left over to invest in and maintain the property, which could negatively impact the available affordable housing stock.”

“Farmers and ranchers have been able to pass their farms on to the next generation thanks to the stepped-up basis tax provision,” said American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. “The value of many farms is tied up in land and equipment and most farmers don’t have large amounts of money on-hand to pay capital gains taxes. They could be forced to sell the farm or take out costly loans just to pay capital gains taxes. Eliminating the stepped-up basis isn’t a tax on the rich - it’s a tax on the middle class. We urge President Biden to remain true to his word that he won’t increase taxes on hardworking, middle-class Americans.”

Chris Netram, Vice President of Tax & Domestic Economic Policy, National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) said, “Stepped-up basis protects family-owned manufacturers from significant tax bills when businesses are passed on to the next generation. As this report shows, repealing step-up could have a dramatic impact on small manufacturers across the country, potentially requiring families to liquidate businesses, leverage assets, or lay off employees to cover the tax hit. The NAM encourages Congress and the administration to keep in place this important policy for families across the country rather than increasing taxes on their job creating businesses.”  



NCBA Backed Study Proves Stepped-Up Basis Repeal Would Be Detrimental to Farms and Ranches

Today, the Family Business Estate Tax Coalition (FBETC) released an EY study quantifying the impact a repeal of stepped-up basis would have on family businesses. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has long advocated for the preservation of this long-standing provision of the U.S. tax code, as well as other sound tax policies for rural America, and has been an active supporter of this study.

“The EY study sheds light on the facts that we at NCBA—among others in the agricultural community—have long known. Simply put, the repeal of stepped-up basis would have catastrophic impacts on the ability of farmers and ranchers to transfer their operations to the next generation,” said NCBA Senior Executive Director of Government Affairs Danielle Beck.

The EY study found that family-owned businesses and the local economies they support would be hit hardest by a repeal. To reveal the impact stepped-up basis repeal would have on family-owned farms and ranches, EY developed a case-study based on a theoretical family-owned cow-calf operation. In this scenario—one where the stepped-up basis is no longer a tool for family-owned business to utilize when generational transfer occurs — gains are taxed at death and would result in an immediate one-time tax liability equivalent to 280 percent of the farm’s annual income.

“NCBA continues to advocate for tax policy that allows the next generation of agricultural producers to have the economic tools to be successful. Repealing stepped-up basis would adversely impact farmers and ranchers across the country. In fact, while this provision has been identified as a potential revenue raiser for government spending—it would be irresponsible to place that burden on family-owned businesses, and multi-generational agricultural operations in particular,” said Beck.

Based on the analysis of the EY study — this tax increase, whether via tax at death or carryover of basis, will have negative impacts on family-owned businesses, U.S. gross domestic product (GDP), and job creation both in the immediate and long term. Repeal of stepped-up basis would impose a tax burden on top of the existing estate tax regime, further compounding these negative impacts.



USDA’s Farm Service Agency is currently accepting new and modified CFAP 2 applications

USDA is implementing updates to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) for producers of agricultural commodities marketed in 2020 who faced market disruptions due to COVID-19. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced an expansion of CFAP on March 24, 2021. This is part of a larger effort to reach a greater share of farming operations and improve USDA pandemic assistance.

In 2020, did you own/produce any of the following?
    Livestock (cattle, pigs, sheep/wool, broilers/pullets, eggs and more)
    Row or specialty crops (including aquaculture, nursery, and more)

If so, you may be eligible for financial assistance through CFAP 2. The CFAP 2 signup period has reopened as part of USDA’s new Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Note: Participation in CFAP 1 is NOT required for assistance through CFAP 2.

To learn more, visit farmers.gov/CFAP, contact our call center at 877-508-8364, or contact your local FSA office.



Updated Sustainability Impact Report highlights continued commitment and improvement

Today, the Animal Agriculture Alliance released its updated “Sustainability Impact Report” in celebration of Earth Day and the animal agriculture community’s commitment to continuous improvement in environmental stewardship, animal care, responsible antibiotic use, food safety and nutrition. To access the report, go to https://animalagalliance.org/issues/sustainability.

The 33-page report covers nine sectors of animal agriculture: dairy, beef, veal, pork, chicken, turkey, egg, sheep and aquaculture. “Earth Day is a great opportunity to appreciate our planet and our environment, but for farmers and ranchers, every day is like Earth Day,” said Kay Johnson Smith, Alliance president and CEO. “As showcased in our updated Sustainability Impact Report, the animal agriculture community continues to make advancements in ongoing efforts to reduce its environmental footprint while continuing to safely, efficiently and affordably produce the nutrients our bodies need to function and feel our best.”

The report contains valuable insights into animal agriculture’s dedication to continuous improvement, including the following environmental stewardship highlights:
    Agriculture accounts for roughly 10 percent of U.S. GHG emissions while livestock production is only 4 percent.
    The dairy community contributes less than 2 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions while supplying the protein requirements of 169 million people, calcium requirements of 254 million people, and energy requirements of 71.2 million people.
    The beef community, through continued sustainability efforts and improved resource use, has reduced emissions per pound of beef produced by more than 40 percent while also producing more than 66 percent more beef per animal between 1961 and 2018.
    Pig farmers are continually decreasing their carbon footprint through the adoption of renewable energy sources and some farms are now carbon neutral or negative.
    Over 95 percent of poultry litter is recycled and reused as organic fertilizer to grow crops.
    More than 40 percent of ingredients used in animal feed are recycled byproducts from other industries.

Sessions at the Alliance’s 2021 Virtual Summit will address many of the topics presented in the Sustainability Impact Report, highlighting ways to position animal agriculture as a path forward to climate neutrality, discuss animal protein in a sustainable food system, and more! Preconference webinars start Wednesday, April 28 and will be held each business day leading up to the main event set for May 5 and 6.